Catanduanes is an island province of the Philippines that belongs to the Bicol Region (Region V) of Luzon. Its composed of 11 towns and its capital is Virac.
Catanduanes' geographical position has it lying completely exposed to the Pacific Ocean. Therefore it is known as "Land of the Howling Winds" because it is frequently visited by tropical storms.
Catanduanes' geographical position has it lying completely exposed to the Pacific Ocean. Therefore it is known as "Land of the Howling Winds" because it is frequently visited by tropical storms.
Among the folk festivals celebrated in Catanduanes are:
Catanduanes is located in the heart of the typhoon belt, and it is not unusual to experience a typhoon at any time during the year. However, its geographic location facing the open Pacific Ocean has enabled.
The Catholic religion is heavily practiced throughout the island. Many of the major annual events and festivals center on religious holidays.
Two dialects of Bicol are spoken in Catanduanes, Northern Catanduanes and South Catanduanes. However, Tagalog and English are both widely spoken and understood.
- Dinahit Festival is a prime festival in the municipality of Pandan celebrated every April. The activities of the festival include street dancing, beauty pageant, trade fair, and different contests such as carabao race and boat race.
- Pantomina is purely a native dance, popular on occasions of importance. It is a dance interpretation (pantomime) of a rooster courting a hen. Pantomina dance is mostly practiced in rural areas.
- Padadyao sa Tinampo is purely native cultural presentation of street dancing held every 24 October to commemorate the province‘s founding anniversary.
- Sugbo Festival is a very recent addition to these traditional festivals. The notable contemporary event is celebrated by the seven barangays of Hitoma in Caramoran that produces sugbo or tiger grass - a bamboo like perennial grass used to make brooms. Celebrated every month of May coinciding with the Hitoma barangay fiesta, it is being institutionalized with the support of the provincial government, LGU of Caramoran and national line agencies to promote the commercial development of the local lasa or tiger grass industry and to create signature products from tiger grass.
Catanduanes is located in the heart of the typhoon belt, and it is not unusual to experience a typhoon at any time during the year. However, its geographic location facing the open Pacific Ocean has enabled.
The Catholic religion is heavily practiced throughout the island. Many of the major annual events and festivals center on religious holidays.
Two dialects of Bicol are spoken in Catanduanes, Northern Catanduanes and South Catanduanes. However, Tagalog and English are both widely spoken and understood.